License-plate color-combination indicator



April 1 1924. 1,488,840

- G. w. SCOTT LICENSE PLATE COLOR COMBINATION INDICATOR Filed Dec. 21. 1920 ntoz Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

GILBERT W. SCOTT, OF LA. SLLLE, ILLINOIS.

LICENSE-FIAT!) COLORPGOMBINATION INDICATOR.

Application Med December 21, 1920. Serial Io. 482,288.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT W. Soozrr, a citizen of the United States, residin at La Salle, in the county of La Salle and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in License-Plate Color- Combination Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for determining the color combination of a 1 license tag for automotive vehicles, for any geographic subdivision of a country.

The prime object of the invention is the provision of a device for chronological arrangement of a uniform system of auto motive vehicle registration throughout a country.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above described character for use in a country, geographically subdivided, and which embodies a color combination, for each geographic subdivision, for any period of time, being so systematicall arranged that the color combination oi any geographical subdivision-for a certain period of time can be accurately determined by either knowing the ear or the color combination for any sing e geographic subdivision.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a system of the above described character, which could be enacted by Federal statutes in a country, and used by the public authorities, in the immediate determination of the particular eographic subdivision to which a vehicle belongs; which if adopted by the United States would avoid confusion, mistakes, and in many cases avoid wrongs now incident to interstate travel and due to lack of a uniform system ofFederal vehicle registration.

Further objects an advantages will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvedlicense plate color combination indicator.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates in a fiat circular disc, which has a plurality of geographical subdivisions thereon, and which is rotatably mounted upon a disc B having a plurality of different color combinations, in number equal to the geogi'aphic subdivisions, 'upon the disc A.

eans C is provided for clamping the disc A to the disc B and is so adjustable as to permit rotation of the disc A with respect to the disc B.

' The disc A. is circular in formation and is provided upon its marginal circumference with a plurality of subdivisions 10, of equal degree, there being a name or some indentifying mark 11 in each subdivision, or segment 10, which'designates a particular geographic subdivision of any country in which the improved device might be used; it being understood that the total number of geographic subdivisions as indicated upon the disc A will comprise those districts and States which have authority or are iven authority to maintain a separate ve icle registration, which would be a unit in the national system as outlined under this invention.

The disc B is relatively larger than the disc A and is circular, the two discs A and B being concentrically arranged upon the clamping mechanism 0 in such manner that a circumferential portion 12 will project outwardly from the outer edge 13 of the disc A. The circumferential extending portion 12 is subdivided into a plurality of segments, of equal degree, and in number equal to the se ments as outlined on the geographic divisions upon the disc A, it being understood, of course, that the boundary lines 15 which subdivide any one geographic district from the others will align with any two boundary lines 16, which form a subdivision upon the portion 12; since the boundary lines 15 and 16 are in reality struck from the centers of the -discs A and B. Each of the segmental divisions 14 upon the disc B is further subdivided, along the outward marginal circumference of the portion 12 by a circle 17 struck upon, or cut into the plate 0, and scribed from the axis 18 of the disc A; and in each of which subdivisions, an equal period of time is marked,

18 of the discs A and B. Each of the sections 21 and 22 of the subdivisions 14 contain a distinct and individual color, the colors being so arranged and combined that no two segmental subdivisions 14 have the same color combinations as to cause confusion. The sections 21 of the varioussubappears in each segment 14, which is distinct and separate from any other color combination each of which color combinations has a year or period of time designated in the sections 19 forming apart of the subdivisions 14.

An indicator or pointer 25 is referably rigidly disposed with respect to t e disc A, and may be integral with one of the subdivisions appearin upon the disc A, the pointer 25 extending outwardly from the edge 13 of the disc A andoverlying the portion 12 of the disc B.

The retaining means C for rotatably mounting the disc A upon the disc B comprises a substantially flat portion 27, disposed within an indentation provided in the under surface 28 of the disc B and rovided centrally with an upwardly pro ecting screw threaded shank 29 adapted to extend through suitable apertures defining the axis of the disc A and B, in such manner that the screw threaded portion of the shank 29, extends upwardly from the top surface 30 of the disc A. A wing nut 31, is adapted for adjustable engagement with the screw threaded portion of the shank 29 and adapted to be rotated for clamping the disc A securely to the disc B, or for loosening the same upon the shank 29 to permit of rotation of the disc A with respect to the disc B, as desired.

Since the subdivisions 14 appearing upon the disc B are equal in degree and in number to the subdivisions 10 which appear upon the discA, it follows that when one of the subdivisions 10 is aligned with any one of the subdivisions 14 that all of the remaining subdivisions-10 will each one align with any one of the remaining subdivisions 14.- Thus if a person desires to know what the color combination of the State of Texas, of the United States was for the year 1922; and the indicator 25appears upon the subdivisions 10 designating the State of Alabama; it would merely be necessary to point the indicator 25 to the year 1922 in that subdivision upon which it appears, and the color combination appearing in that segmental subdivision 14 which is opposite the segmental subdivisions 10 containing the geographic designation Texas would be the proper color combination for the State of Texas for the year 1922.

Due to the fact that the abbreviations of States and districts are sometimes unintelligible as printed upon license tags and due to the fact that in the United States, some States adopt the: same color combinations upon the license tags for the same period of time, it has been impossible for the authorities in one State: to definitel apprehend to what State a vehicle belonget the occupants of which had been guilty of an offense and made their escape; although the authorities might even have secured the color combination and license tag number. By reason of the above device, a deter mination of the particular State could be readily efi'e-cted, it being merely necessary to point the indicator 25 to the segment 14, which denoted the period of time 20 for which the license plate was issued. An observation of the States in the segment 10, upon the smaller disc A, which is in alignment with that segment upon the larger disc B containing the color combination which appeared on the license tag, would be the proper State or district to which the Vehicle belonged.

It can be seen from the foregoing that a national system of vehicle registration would be effected which could be maintained in use, from year to year, the color combination automatically chan in with the year and as designated u n t e evice.

It is to be understoo that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a member provided with a plurality of color combinations arranged thereon, and a second member movable with respect to the first mentioned member having a series of geographical subdivisions thereon adapted for cooperative disposal with respect to the first mentioned member so that upon placement of any geographic subdivision in alignment With its known color combination, the true color combinations of the remaining geographical subdivisions will align therewit 2. In an indicator, the combination of a relatively large disc having a plurality of segmental subdivisions thereon of equal degree defining a plurality of color combinations, and a second disc relatively smaller than said first mentioned disc rotatably and concentrically disposed thereon, said second disc having a plurality of geographical subdivisions disposed thereon of equal degree and number with respect to the subdivisions of said first mentioned disc, said first mentioned disc having indicia thereon chronologically arranging the segments and color combinations thereof, said geographical subdivisions of the second mentioned discs cooperating with the color combinations and their chronological indicia whereby upon the passing of a period as defined by said chronological arrangement, said geogra hical subdivisions may have different co or combinationsthan that for a preceding period.

3. A device of the class described comrisin a relativel lar 'e disc member a p D V I 7 subdivisions of equal degree, said exposed annular portion of the larger disc having a circular line extending concentrically thereof inwardly of the outer edge of the said disc to provide an outer space in each sale division of said relatively larger disc, which are adapted to receive chronologically arranged indicia, each of said subdivisions of the larger disc intermediate said circular line and annular edge of the relatively smaller disc having a color combination thereon, said smaller disc having radial subdivisions thereon of equal degree with the subdivisions of said larger disc which are adapted to receive geographical indicia thereon designating States, whereby a State may be aligned with a known color combination subdivision, so that the remaining States will designate their true color combinations on the first mentioned disc, said geographical subdivisions adapted for cooperation with the chronological arrangement on said large disc, whereby the same may have a change in color combination upon the passing of a predetermined period'as defined by said chronological arrangement.

GILBERT W. SCOTT. 

